Treatment of Animals Without Owners in the Context of the Constitutional Right to Safe Environment

Abstract

According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, every citizen has the right to a favorable environment. According to Article 137 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, animals are property and the general rules on property apply to them. Accordingly, owning an animal implies the burden of maintaining property, namely: ensuring the needs of animals, compliance with special sanitary and epidemiological conditions of detention, protection from abuse, the obligation to eliminate the possible consequences of increased danger of animals to others. One of the reasons for the formation of a danger to the health and property of citizens is the problem of handling animals without owners, namely stray dogs. The article examines current norms at the federal and regional levels, judicial practice on this issue, and provides statistics on harm to citizens. It is concluded that it is necessary to recognize the difference between regions in the situation with neglected animals and the reasonableness of implementing various principles of working with them.